Learn More: Salinity

What does this mean?

When someone mentions 'salinity' and 'water' in the same sentence, most people think of the ocean, the Gulf or coastal bays. However, simply put, 'salinity' refers to the amount of salts dissolved in water, any water, and that includes "freshwater". Generally speaking, the salts that constitute salinity in oceans are the same as those in lakes and streams; the amount (concentration) of those salts is, of course, much higher in oceans.

The salinity of any waterbody is extremely important to all creatures living in and around it. For example, a slight change in salinity can cause fish, frog or shrimp eggs to float too much (high salinity) or not enough (low salinity), thus reducing or eliminating their chances of development into adults. Salinity is also important for water uses on land by people and wildlife. The saltier the water, the more difficult and expensive it is to prepare for drinking, and the more dangerous it is to apply to crops.

How does water become more or less salty?

The most important sources of salts, and therefore salinity, in all Earth's waters are: (1) washing (dissolving) of salts from the soil and rock of the Earth's crust; (2) precipitation (dust, rain and snow falling into the water) and (3) the evaporation and precipitation cycle. Let's look at a simple example.

Positively and negatively charged elements or "ions" create the salinity of all waters. These ions are found in the soil and rock of Earth's crust, and some, like sodium chloride (NaCl) are incredibly abundant. Often referred to as "common salt" or "common table salt", sodium chloride is comprised of two ions, a positively-charged sodium (Na) cation, and a negatively charged chloride (Cl) anion. When water saturates soil and washes over rock, NaCl is dissolved in the water (that is, the ions separate and bond with the ions of water) and the water becomes more salty; that is, its salinity increases.

As freshwater (streams and springs, for example) reaches marine waters, it mixes and reduces the salinity. These freshwater sources also provide nutrients, oxygen and food for the plants and animals there. The result is an amazing ecosystem, the "estuary," where a tremendous variety and abundance of life can flourish. Over 90% of all of the animal species that dwell within miles of land use the estuaries as their mating or spawning grounds; that is why estuaries are referred to as the nurseries of the oceans.

Protecting the flow of freshwater to estuaries is critically important. Organizations such as the Southwest Florida Water Management District are working to determine the amount of freshwater flows that are necessary to ensure rivers continue to maintain historical salinity patterns in estuaries. Salty water can also enter surface waters through groundwater systems. The process is known as saltwater intrusion, and it occurs as groundwater is pumped for use as public water supply, which allows saltwater to migrate inland. To prevent this problem from continuing, groundwater resources must be conserved. Water conservation on land is critical to protecting life in the Gulf!

How are the data collected? (Methods)

Today, most salinity measurements are made with sensors placed directly in the water. These sensors measure the electrical conductivity of the water; that is, they determine the rate at which a tiny electrical current moves through the water. The saltier the water—that is, the higher the concentration of salts—the more rapidly the current will pass through it.

Salinity measurements made in gulfs, bays, oceans and seas (marine waters) are reported as parts per thousand or ppt. The salinity of most oceans and seas (excluding inland seas, such as Great Salt Lake) ranges from 35-37 ppt. The salinity of estuaries (places where freshwater meets marine water) ranges from approximately 8–15 ppt, depending on the amount and quality of freshwater flowing to them. Salinity measurements made in lakes, streams, inland marshes and inland bayous (collectively referred to as "freshwater" because their salinity is much lower than that of marine waters) are reported as specific conductance and in microSiemen (μS) or milliSiemen (mS) rather than parts per thousand (ppt). The specific conductance, or "conductivity," of freshwaters ranges much more widely than do the salinities of marine waters, and can be less than 500 μS (approximately 0.35 ppt) or as high or higher than 5,000 μS (approximately 3.5 ppt), which is salty for freshwater. So, freshwaters with high conductivities are only a fraction as salty as marine and estuarine waters.

Generally speaking, the salinity data that you will find in the Water Atlas is presented as specific conductance. The exceptions to this are where water quality data are presented from marine and estuarine waters. If you want to know the salinity in ppt of water when it is presented as conductivity in μS or visa versa, you need only know the following relationship and then apply some simple algebra.

Relationship: 0 to 70 ppt ≅ 0 to 100,000 μS

Example:

Question: What is the salinity in ppt of a freshwater lake where the specific conductance is 5,000 μS?

Answer:

   X ppt =  5,000 μS  = 70 ppt x 5,000 μS  =  70 ppt x 5,000 μS  =  350,000 ppt  =  3.5 ppt
70 ppt 100,000 μS  100,000 μS  100,000 μS  100,000

Calculations

Caveats and Limitations

Salinities in near-coastal waters such as estuaries vary seasonally and are influenced by the in-flow of freshwater, or the lack thereof. Conductivities of freshwaters, especially marshes and lakes, can increase during dry times as water evaporates and allows salts to concentrate. Conversely, high rainfall can reduce the salinity in lakes and marshes. Therefore, data may vary with extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. Salinity (and conductivity) data are compared historically. This means that data collected at a sampling location (referred to as a sampling station) through this year are compared with data collected at that station at the same time last year, the year before and so on. Data have been collected for much longer periods at some stations than at others, and this may influence the trend (how the data indicate salinity appears to be changing) at that station.